All Hear October 2024

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Welcome (back) to All Hear, the Everything List for Audio Opportunities.

Transom has some exciting news this month! Sophie Crane is joining us as Executive Director, where she’ll be heading up the Transom Story Lab, which has visions of inclusive audio training, gatherings and projects that I personally believe will change the future of audio. You can read more about it in her inspiring manifesto. It feels rare to get good news from this industry (AND in the same week that Heavyweight posts an update about its future! Finally some positives to cling onto).

More positives from this month’s opportunities include The BBC Indie Development Fund for U.K. based indies; the Call for Applications for Radio Professionals from Sindh and Balochistan in Pakistan, and two calls for pitches: The Hustle from Feet in 2 Worlds, for narrative audio stories about how immigrants are navigating the changing economy and the changing nature of work and Radio Workshop’s Call for Pitches on LGBTQ+ dating on apps from African audio producers (details in newsletter).

This month, instead of a Spotlight I’ve pottered around Transom’s archives to select some of my favourite articles on the making of audio documentaries. They focus on pitching, interviewing and ideas generation from some of the best makers out there. Transom is such a treasure trove of information, and even though some of these articles were written 10+ years ago, so much of the shared information still rings true. You can read it here.

All Hear is free and always will be. I make the time to sift through hundreds of sources and redraft all the information because I believe this resource should be accessible to all. If you would like to, and are able to, you can show your support by buying me a coffee or donating to Transom.

More Opportunities

International

Multitrack Masterclasses - Multitrack is offering pay what you can afford masterclasses on a variety of industry topics. In each masterclass, a producer shares up to 30 minutes of audio from one of their projects, plus a Q&A. They will be also sharing the recordings of each Masterclass. Upcoming classes include Trauma Informed Documentary Making with Christina Hardinge and Creating a Sonic Identity for a Story with Meera Kumar.

The deadlines are ongoing.

Waging Nonviolence Call for Pitches on Gaza - a callout for stories in English about the many ways ordinary people in the Arab region — as well as the U.S. and Europe — are organising to end the war. Pitches should address questions of strategy and tactics, giving the audience an inside look at movements and how they are building power. They are not looking for stories about one-off protests, general acts of solidarity/support or deep dives into the issue itself. In terms of sources, they prefer to highlight the voices of organisers and activists from underrepresented and traditionally marginalised communities, rather than government officials, corporate spokespeople, etc. They accept: written features (1500 - 2000 words, $200); interviews with key movement figures (~1500 words, $100); analytical commentaries, typically written by organisers or close observers (~1500 words, $100) and multimedia work — short video reports or audio pieces (5 - 10 minutes, $200).

The deadline is unspecified.

Braunschweig Projects Residency Programme - a 12-month fellowship for international young artists in the fields of fine art and sound art to work on a project in the immediate vicinity of HBK Braunschweig University of Art in Germany. Successful applicants will be integrated into the university by a mentor. They provide €1400 per month. They provide subsidised accommodation which costs €150 per month. There will also be an allowance for project and travel costs. Scholarship holders have to live at HBK for at least eight months during the lecture period in the summer and winter semesters. Applications can be in German or English.

The deadline is 18th October, 11:59 pm CET.

Radiophrenia Open Call - a Scottish arts radio station is looking for sound and radio works from international makers for their upcoming broadcasts beginning in March 2025. It is unpaid. They are asking for “soundscapes, spoken word pieces, radio experiments, found sound, innovative approaches to drama and documentary, and radical and challenging new programme ideas.” It is intended primarily for existing works, but artists local to Glasgow can also propose live studio performances. All radio works and programme ideas should be submitted either as completed pieces (for existing works) or as a written proposal (for live shows). Existing pieces can be any duration, but shorter works will be compiled into longer shows. They welcome submissions in all languages, but non-English language pieces should be accompanied by a translation or detailed summary of the content.

The deadline is 20th October.

LeadNext: Ambassadors for a Global Future - a fellowship for emerging leaders aged 18 - 25 to build competencies in social change leadership. They are looking for dynamic emerging leaders from any sector with a commitment to creative approaches to addressing issues such as climate change, inequality, injustice, poverty, or other pressing issues. Fellows meet 1-3 times a week over several weeks and attend the Global Leaders Summit in San Francisco on the week of 14th July 2025. To be eligible for the programme candidates must be fully conversant in English and able to commit to attending all sessions with an understanding that they are working across many time zones. Virtual sessions will take place in the mornings in Asia and evenings in the United States for approximately two hours per session. The Summit is a full-time commitment. NOTE: I believe it is for international applicants but I can’t confirm.

The deadline is 27th October, 11:59 pm PT.

The Webbys - international awards for “excellence on the internet.” They have a podcast category honouring exceptional work in podcasts and audio, including Shows, Individual Episodes, Limited-Series & Specials, and Features. Podcast categories include Best Co-Hosts, Best Indie Podcast, Business, History, News & Politics, and Best Creator or Influencer Series. Prices range from $215 to $665 depending on the deadline and the type of work. Student work can be entered in all categories is $90 ($85 early bird). Non-English podcasts must be dubbed or subtitled into English with videos.

The early deadline is 25th October. The final deadline is 20th December.

Sport Podcast Awards - an international recognition of podcasts about sports. There are 23 categories, including Diverse Voices and Best Equality and Social Impact categories. The applications are short listed and then winners are decided by public vote. Each entry costs $150 or free for independent podcasters.

The deadline is 27th October.

Boscolo Collection Art Prize - an award of €1500 and 1-month residency at the spaces of Boscolo Nice Hotel & Spa to support and promote deserving young international artists under the age of 35. Artists may participate in any visual expression, including sound installation. One of their works submitted in the application phase will also be acquired by Roberto Boscolo, thus becoming part of the Boscolo Collection (NOTE: it’s unclear how sound installation work can be acquired). The winner, along with the second and third place winners, will be entitled to a 3-month exhibition.

The deadline is 27th October, 12 pm CEST.

The American University in Cairo Kamal Adham Fellowship for Television and Digital Journalism - a fellowship for international journalists who wish to pursue full-time study towards a one and a half year master’s degree in television and digital journalism at The American University in Cairo (AUC). Applicants must have financial needs and a Bachelor's degree with a minimum overall grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or equivalent. Preference is given to graduates of Egyptian public universities and professionals in the broadcasting industry. The fellowship covers: partial tuition fees for a maximum of eight credits per semester; student services and activities fees; medical service and health insurance fees; and it may cover prerequisite courses and one semester of intensive English language courses as needed. Fellows are assigned up to 20 hours per week of related academic or technical work and expected to conduct a teaching assistantship if the course requires.

The deadline is 29th October.

ICFJ Road Safety Reporting Competition and Awards - support to help journalists that have published in media outlets in Brazil, Botswana, India, Mexico, Nepal or Nigeria to produce multimedia stories that shine a light on road crash deaths and injuries in some of the hardest-hit countries. Pieces could be podcasts, photo reportage, cross-border stories, or investigations to help audiences access information from a range of different perspectives around road safety. This will not be a cash prize but rather an offering of support of the advancement of their work on road safety (unspecified). Applicants should have published at least one story related to road safety. 

The deadline is 29th October.

Audio Verse Awards - international awards for audio drama. They have awards in seven categories, including Sound Designers, Production, Performance, Writing, Directing. You can nominate any series/podcast yourself, then the judges will narrow these down to finalists, and then the public vote for the winners. They charge $25 for a nomination but they have a section for sponsorship requests on their application forms. NOTE: I can’t find specifications on what languages are accepted.

The deadline for nominations is 30th October, 11:59 pm PT.

Mawred Production Awards Program - an initiative supporting young artists and writers below the age of 35 from the Arab region — whether residing in it or in the diaspora — by offering production grants in the following disciplines: Literature, Visual Arts, Music & Sound Art, Performing Arts, and Cinema. Grants are awarded up to €8500. For Music & Sound Art they fund the creation and recording of music albums, experimental music/sound projects, sound installations, live concerts, and music-related visuals. The application must be completed entirely in Arabic, apart from the fields that require English.

The deadline is 31st October, 4 pm EEST.

Binaural Nodar Open Call for Artist Residencies - Binaural Nodar — annual artist residency programmes in sound and media arts — is looking for projects from rural-based artists (I think internationally) that can address and express themes related to youth in rural contexts. Projects could explore: old memories of childhood and youth experiences; forms of recreational sociability in the past and today; rural youth and social difference; rural youth and their relationship with craft knowledge; the experience of urban youth in rural settings; rural landscapes and the development of young people’s self-esteem. The artist residencies will last two weeks and take place during four alternative periods, in the spring and autumn of 2025 and 2026.. The organisation will cover the costs of accommodation, meals and travel in the region, as well as paying each selected project an artist fee of €500.

The deadline is 31st October.

Marŝarto Awards - free-to-enter awards recognise exceptional walking art (excluding sound walks). Work can include a variety of formats, approaches, and subjects, from a wide range of creative disciplines, including arts, heritage and history, health and wellbeing, social practices, journalism, performance, literature and theatre, ecology, tourism, and more. Any walking piece submitted to the walk · listen · create website in 2023 or 2024 are eligible. Winners receive €500 and honourable mentions receive €200.

The deadline is 31st October.

Global Media Competition on Labour Migration - a competition open to international professional and student journalists producing fair and balanced media reports on labour migration. Pieces are accepted in the following formats: written press, photo essay, multimedia, podcast, video or radio. A submission in any language is welcome, as long as there is an English, French or Spanish translation. Students are allowed to submit a published or unpublished piece. Winners can choose between a cash prize of $1200 in the professional category and $500 in the student category, or a paid fellowship to participate in an online ITC-Turin fair recruitment or forced labour or labour migration course in 2025.

The deadline is 31st October. 11:59 pm CEST.

CERC Migration Journalism Fellowship Program - a 1-month residency with CERC Migration at Toronto Metropolitan University for international journalists with at least five years of media work experience who would like to deepen their professional knowledge about immigration and migrant integration research. The fellowship promotes collaboration and knowledge transfer between researchers and Canadian and international journalists to strengthen the communication of evidence-based knowledge about migration and integration issues. They provide: a stipend of CAD $4000; an academic host, selected from the CERC Migration research team; access to an office space and resources; and networking and professional development. During their residency, journalists will have the opportunity to conduct their own field research project and to connect with an expert team of Canadian and international researchers and local stakeholders. Fellowships must be a consecutive period of 20 to 35 days between 1st March and 30th November 2025. Applicants can be journalists from digital, print, radio or TV. 

The deadline is 1st November.

ICFJ Boost: Reporting Grants for Journalists - funding of $2000 - $3000 for international journalists in the International Center for Journalists’s (ICFJ) global network for high-quality reporting that explores climate and climate change in the Global South. They may also offer mentorship. The reporting period will run for three months. Journalists who reside in a country where ICFJ does not currently offer an active programme are especially encouraged to apply.

The deadline is 1st November, 11:59 pm ET.

The Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program - a federally funded, 5-month international exchange programme for mid-career democracy activists, scholars, civil society leaders, and journalists to explore new ideas, undertake individual research, and share best practices. Applicants must possess a doctorate (a Ph.D. or academic equivalent) and be proficient in English. Fellows will spend five months in residence at the National Endowment for Democracy in Washington, D.C., in order to undertake independent research on democracy in a particular country or region, focusing on the political, social, economic, legal, or cultural aspects of democratic development. The fellowship will involve seminars, roundtables, field trips, and other events. Each fellow receives a monthly stipend (unspecified) for living expenses, plus basic health insurance and round trip travel to and from Washington, D.C. One of the recent fellows was a radio journalist.

The deadline is 1st November, 5 pm ET.

Kiplinger Fellowship - a 1-week fellowship for international journalists on the topic of Artificial Intelligence, held at Ohio University and the Scripps School of Journalism, from 23rd - 28th March 2025. The fellowship is for journalists with less than five years’ experience. Areas of focus will include: ethics and public trust, writing and editing with AI, AI and data, AI for audio and imaging, fakespotting AI images and more. They provide free training, lodging and most meals, as well as a partial travel stipend (unspecified) to cover the fellows’ transportation, varying depending on location and travel costs. They accept applications from media members working in print, broadcast (television, radio and podcasting) and many digital platforms. Samples can be in any language, as long as English translations are provided. The fellowship is conducted in English.

The deadline is 1st November.

James T. Grady - James H. Stack Award - an international award to recognise, encourage, and stimulate outstanding reporting on chemistry which increases the American public's knowledge and understanding. The prize is $5000 and up to $2500 for travel expenses to the awards presentation. They accept multiple media, including radio and online.

The deadline is 1st November.

AIR's Audio Community Survey - an invitation for international members of the audio community to let AIR know how they can best support them in the upcoming year. They are looking for answers from both members and non-members. As a thank you for completing the survey, participants will receive a discount code for 1-year AIR Professional memberships and renewals.

The deadline is 4th November.

AIPS Sport Media Awards - a free-to-enter international award for sports journalism. They have a category for Audio. First place prize for all categories is $8000, second place is $3000 and third place is $2000. They also have a Young Reporters Award (for those born on or after 1st January 1995) which is split into several categories, including one for Broadcasting, which allows for audio submissions. The prize for the Young Reporters Award is a scholarship in a major international sports event. All languages are accepted, as long as there is an English transcript.

The deadline is 4th November, 10 pm CET.

Chevening Scholarship - full funding for yearlong Master’s degrees at leading U.K. universities for international students from eligible countries or territories (which you can find here). The scholarship covers tuition fees, visa applications, vaccinations (where necessary), travel to and from the country of residence, an arrival allowance, a departure allowance, and personal living stipend. Applicants must: hold an undergraduate degree that qualifies you for a U.K. master’s programme; have at least two years of work experience; apply to three different eligible U.K. university courses and have received an unconditional offer from one; return to their country of citizenship for a minimum of two years after the award has ended.

The deadline is 5th November, 12 pm GMT.

Philip Meyer Awards - a recognition of excellent international journalism conducted using social science research methods. Work should explore significant societal problems which others have intended to keep hidden. The entry costs are $75 for professionals and free for students. They accept entries in all languages, but require English translation for each entry. They will acknowledge the first, second and third place prize winners.

The deadline is 15th November, 11:59 pm ET.

The MSU Museum CoLab Studio Blurred Realities Open Call - an invitation for bold and innovative proposals from international artists, designers, scientists, engineers, psychologists, gamers, researchers, performers, storytellers, activists, musicians and students for a programme or event that correlates with the MSU Museum’s upcoming exhibition, “Blurred Realities.” The exhibition and public programming series will delve into contemporary questions that challenge our perception and understanding of what is real and authentic. In an era of new and evolving technology, “Blurred Realities” seeks to explore real and surrogate objects and media, authenticity and deception, and information and disinformation. They seek proposals that explore the line between imaginative storytelling, authenticity, and manipulative information, grounded in the intersection of art, science, and ethics. Projects are funded for up to $3000 for production costs.

The deadline is 15th November.

Ambies - international awards for excellence in audio. There are 28 categories, including a Best DIY Podcast, for any podcast with a budget of $500 or less per month, and Best Indie Podcast for self-financed projects by individuals or production teams of less than five. Only English-language entries are accepted, except in the new Best Spanish Language Narrative Podcast (Fiction or Nonfiction) category. Early bird entries cost $150 for members of The Podcast Academy and $200 for non-members, and regular deadlines cost an additional $50. 

The regular deadline is 22nd November.

Asia Media Fellows Program - support for seasoned journalists from distressed media markets in the Asia-Pacific region who remain committed to independent journalism to visit Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., to conduct research and engage with policymakers, the U.S. media, NGOs and think tanks. A university degree in journalism, international relations, political science, public policy, or other relevant field is required; an advanced degree at the masters or doctoral level is preferred. Successful applicants will: have at least five years of experience working in journalism; demonstrate a commitment to independent journalism; demonstrate expertise in the political, economic, and social affairs of the Asia-Pacific region; have a proficiency in an Asian language. Fellows will receive a $20,000 stipend. The recipient will be responsible for flights, food, lodging, visa, and travel expenses during the duration of the programme. Fellows must reside in Maryland, Northern Virginia or Washington, D.C., by their date of hire. 

The deadline is rolling until 1st December.

Nieman Fellowship (for International Applicants) - a 9-month fellowship for 12 journalists who are not U.S. citizens to spend two semesters at Harvard auditing classes of their choice. Successful applicants will receive free accommodation, supplemental health insurance and a stipend of $85,000 to cover living costs. Applicants must be working journalists with at least five years of full-time media experience. Fellows can be working in any medium. There are no age limits or academic prerequisites, and a college degree is not required, but fellows must speak, read and write English fluently.

The deadline is 1st December.

Tribeca Audio - Tribeca Festival’s Audio Storytelling programme. The Festival will curate an Official Selection of international English-language podcasts and audio stories, with an emphasis on discovering, highlighting, and celebrating independent work. They are looking for narrative-driven audio storytelling across genres and formats — pilots, stand-alone pieces, sound-rich audiobooks, and unclassifiable audio are all welcome as long as they’re story-driven. Each selection will receive Tribeca laurels and be eligible to win a Tribeca Festival Award for Audio Storytelling. Independent creators will also be considered for the Tribeca Creators Market, a first-of-its-kind, daylong, private industry market that brings together leading storytellers to pitch new projects to a wide range of industry decision makers, including distributors, community groups, agencies, brands, and more. Official Selections are sorted into four categories: Independent Fiction, Independent Nonfiction, Fiction, and Nonfiction. The first episode of any narrative-driven podcast should be 6 - 60 minutes in length, one stand-alone audio piece can be 6 - 75 minutes, and the first chapter of an audiobook can be 6 - 30 minutes. Submissions must not have been made publicly prior to the Festival (i.e. they will premiere at Tribeca). Entries cost $20 early bird, $30 regular and $40 for the final deadline. Reach out to audiopremieres [at] tribecafilm [dot] com or @TribecaAudio if you have any questions. You can read my Spotlight of Tribeca Audio Storytelling here.

The early deadline is 4th December.

Stanford’s John S. Knight Fellowship (International) - a 9-month journey of professional and personal exploration for non-U.S. based journalists. The fellowship involves twice-weekly cohort events that include leadership workshops, skills training and discussions with guest experts. Applicants must have at least five years of full-time professional journalism experience, but NOTE: applicants do not require college degrees or experience in traditional newsrooms. Stanford offers a stipend of $125,000. 

The deadline is 4th December, 1 pm PT.

AACR June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism - a free-to-enter international award showcasing the outstanding examples of cancer journalism and recognising individual professional journalists who have produced accurate, informative, and compelling stories that enhance the public’s understanding of cancer, cancer research, cancer advocacy, or cancer policy. Candidacy is open to journalists whose primary audience is the lay public. The prize provides an unrestricted cash award of $5000 and a commemorative award. The awards accept submissions from print, online and broadcast, including television, radio and podcasts. The submission must be in English, or accurately translated into English. 

The deadline is 9th December.

AVA Digital Awards - international awards for digital media. They have Audio Production/Radio categories. Entries for a single podcast episode cost $125, or $195 for campaigns. Entry is free for work produced pro bono for nonprofits, although you must have submitted a regular entry as well.

The deadline is 12th December.

United States

Maine Humanities Arts and Humanities Grants - up to $1000 of funding for organisations in Maine that present stories and cultural expressions of the state, its communities, and its people. Projects must include both arts and humanities components. Applicant organisations should be serving and/or led by members of communities traditionally under-resourced in the arts and humanities. Humanities programmes and projects can take many forms, such as exhibitions, conferences, film/video productions, podcasts/radio shows, discussions, performances framed by interpretation. If organisations do not have 501c3 status they should apply with a fiscal sponsor.

The deadline is 22nd October.

ArtsKC Mission Support Grants - two years of unrestricted funding for nonprofit organisations with the arts as their primary purpose. Previously, the average grant amount has been $5250. 

The deadline is 23rd October, 11:45 pm CT.

Grants for Creative Individuals - $5000 grants for artists, culture bearers and creatives in Massachusetts who are aiming to advance creative expression across diverse communities. 

The deadline is 24th October, 11:59 pm ET.

Arizona Artist Opportunity Grant - funding of between $500 and $1500 for Arizona-based artists at any stage of their careers who are looking to expand their artistic entrepreneurship, develop new skills or introduce their work to new audiences. Applicants must be 18+ and a resident of Arizona. 

The deadline is 24th October, 11:59 pm MST.

Squeaky Wheel Workspace Residency (Spring) - 2-week, self-directed residencies for U.S. based artists and researchers working on media arts projects who are seeking resources, time, and support for ongoing projects or the creation of new work. They offer a $900 stipend, up to $300 in artist fees, accommodation, up to $400 in travel support for non-local residents, and up to $900 optional financial assistance for childcare and/or disability support. Previous residents have worked on nonfiction and documentary films, video games, curatorial research, critical essays, experimental film, media art installations, performances, sound work, and more. They offer an Artist Residency (for creating work) or Researcher Residency (for scholarly research related to media projects). Residents are expected to work around 30 hours/week on their projects, and to take part in two public events, as well as a showcase. Residents receive artist fees (unspecified) for these events.

The deadline is 25th October.

NIHCM Foundation Journalism Grants - funding which supports health reporting and education projects by U.S. based journalists that inform public and policymaker awareness about health issues. National and local news outlets, freelance reporters, non-profit media outlets, and organisations that educate journalists are invited to apply. There is no specified limit for the grant amounts. A range of media is accepted, including broadcast.

The deadline is 25th October, 5 pm ET.

The Hustle Call for Pitches - Feet in 2 Worlds is accepting pitches for narrative audio stories about how immigrants in the U.S. are navigating the changing economy and the changing nature of work. Their areas of focus are: history; organising at work; wealthy immigrants; freelancing and the gig economy; middle-class workers; access and mental health; and joy. Pitches should include: human-centered stories and clear narrative arcs; compelling characters and tape; sound-rich scenes, narration, and interviews; a focus on immigrant communities from different regions, backgrounds, and economic circumstances across the country. Payment for accepted stories ranges from $250 - $1500, depending on factors including the experience level of the producer, the length of the story, and the complexity of the story. 

The deadline is 28th October, 11:59 pm ET.

States Newsroom Capital Reporting Fellowship - a summer programme that places U.S. based students and new journalists in newsrooms across the U.S. where they will develop a skill set to hold elected officials accountable. Fellows will be covering state policy in areas such as education, health care, and criminal justice. Fellows receive $20/hour for a 40-hour week from May until August, and a small stipend (unspecified) for housing assistance can also be negotiated. States Newsroom offers additional career preparation benefits such as 1:1 mentoring with a national editor; weekly professional development sessions; portfolio improvement; and a year of coaching beyond the fellowship. Applicants should be currently enrolled as a junior or senior or a recent graduate of an accredited institution of higher education and legally authorised to work in the U.S. Students majoring in journalism, broadcasting, or communications are preferred; other majors will be considered. Preference will be given to applicants whose identities are underrepresented in journalism, such as women, Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC), differently abled, first generation college students, and/or members of the LGBTQ+ community.

The deadline is 31st October, 11:59 pm ET.

EJN Seed Grants to Support Climate and Environmental Journalism - media grants to support immigrant, Black, Indigenous and people of color serving newsrooms and media collectives in the U.S. and Canada for innovative, investigative and/or enterprise reporting projects on environmental or climate change issues lacking representation in mainstream media. They anticipate supporting three organisations with grants of $8000 each. They want to support projects that: utilise investigative techniques to expose government or corporate misconduct; feature storytelling and narratives about climate or environmental issues by and for communities not often featured in mainstream media, and in diverse languages; envision or implement alternative methods of reporting that could better serve their target audiences; dispel myths or counter misinformation; and enhance access to information within a news desert, whether geographical or topical. They encourage podcast production among other media forms. They are only accepting applications in English, but projects are encouraged to produce content in a language best suited for their audience.

The deadline is 31st October, 11:59 pm Pacific/Niue.

Philadelphia, New Jersey and Delaware Student Mediamaker Fund (Fall) - grants for student media makers between the ages of 16 and 30 who want to produce a digital video or audio project. They offer up to $500 for undergraduates and $1500 for graduates. Students must be in eastern Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, Montgomery, Delaware, Chester, Northampton, Bucks, and Lehigh counties), New Jersey (Camden, Burlington, Mercer, Gloucester and Salem counties) or Delaware (New Castle and Kent counties). The grant money must be used within five months. The applicant retains all the intellectual property rights for the project.

The deadline is 31st October.

Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans - funding for New Americans to pursue a graduate degree in the United States of their choosing across a breadth of areas, including journalism. “New Americans” are immigrants or the children of immigrants. Immigrants should be a naturalised U.S. citizen, a green card holder, an asylumee or refugee, or someone who graduated from both high school and college in the United States. Applicants must: be 30 years or younger and have the parent or parents that raised them born outside of the U.S. as non-U.S. citizens (ineligible for U.S. citizenship at the time of their births). The Fellowship supports one to two years of graduate study in any field and in any full-time advanced degree-granting programme in the United States. Applicants can be currently applying to graduate or professional school, or in the first two years of the academic programme they’re seeking funding for.

The deadline is 31st October, 2 pm ET.

CFR Robert A. Belfer International Affairs Fellowship in European Security - a 4- to 12-month initiative for mid-career U.S. professionals to conduct research and work in Europe at a think tank, university, government agency, or international organisation on issues pertaining to European security, organised by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). Individuals from academia, business, government, journalism, NGOs, and think tanks are all encouraged to apply. Applicants must hold at least a Bachelor's degree. The fellowship is intended primarily for applicants without substantial experience working in Europe. The programme awards a stipend of $120,000 for twelve months (prorated if the duration is shorter) as well as a modest travel grant (unspecified). CFR assists fellows in finding a host organisation that matches their proposed work in Europe. The programme is meant to be a transformational experience that enables awardees to develop new skills, pursue new avenues of research, or otherwise take a significant step in their career development.

The deadline is 1st November.

CFR International Affairs Fellowship in Indonesia - a 3- to 12-month initiative for mid-career U.S. professionals to conduct research and work in Indonesia, developing a new professional network, and gaining deeper insights into the opportunities and challenges the country faces, organised by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). Individuals from academia, business, government, journalism, NGOs, and think tanks are all encouraged to apply. Applicants must hold at least a Bachelor’s degree. The fellowship is intended primarily for applicants without substantial experience working in Indonesia. Knowledge of Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia) or other local languages is not required. The programme awards a stipend of $110,000 for twelve months (prorated if the duration is shorter) as well as a modest travel grant (unspecified). CFR assists fellows in finding a host organisation that matches their proposed work in Indonesia.

The deadline is 1st November.

New Hampshire Artist Entrepreneurial Grants - funds for professional New Hampshire-based artists to develop their business skills, participate in programmes to better their art and increase the exposure of their work. Artists can request funding of $250 - $2500. It is not for the creation of new work or equipment purchases or other ineligible expenses listed here. Applicants must be 18+ and devote the majority of their time to practising, performing and/or teaching an arts discipline.

The next deadline is 1st November.

Artist Trust Fellowship Awards - merit-based awards of $10,000 to practicing professional artists of exceptional talent and ability residing in Washington State. In addition to the Artist Trust Fellowships, there are four named Fellowships with additional eligibility requirements: The Fellowship Award for Black Artists, $10,000 for Washington State artists who identify as Black/African/African-American; The Greg Kucera & Larry Yocom Fellowship Award, $10,000 to a visual artist of any background residing in Washington State; The Lillian Miller Foundation Fellowship Award for Trans* and Indigiqueer Artists, $10,000 for Washington State artists of all disciplines who self-identify as trans in its most inclusive sense; The Vadon Foundation Fellowship Award for Native Artists, $10,000 to a Native artist of any discipline residing in Washington State. The awards are open to artists of all disciplines, whether individuals or teams. Applicants must be over the age of 18.

The deadline is 4th November, 11:59 pm PT.

California Documentary Project Grants - funding for documentary film, audio, and digital media productions that explore California in all its complexity and tell stories from every corner of the state. Applicants don’t need to be a California resident, but the state must be the subject of the proposed projects. They offer Research and Development Grants (up to $15,000) for the earliest stages of production or Production Grants (up to $50,000) to propel projects toward completion. NOTE: the grant is for non-profit organisations; individuals applicants must be fiscally sponsored by a tax-exempt organisation or municipal/state agency, preferably one based in California.

The deadline was 4th November.

National Press’s Widening the Pipeline Fellowship - expenses-paid training, mentoring, workshops and peer support for 25 U.S. based journalists of colour who aspire to lead newsrooms. Applicants should have seven years or less of professional newsroom experience. They can be from any medium (print, television, radio or online media) — prospective mentors include NPR’s Senior Editor for Investigations Cheryl Thompson. The training takes place in Washington, D.C.

The deadline is 5th November.

Gwen Ifill Mentorship Program - a professional development opportunity for U.S based women and nonbinary journalists from underrepresented backgrounds, designed to address the lack of diversity in leadership positions across newsrooms in the U.S. Fellows will have the opportunity to learn from the leadership team and will be paired with senior media professionals. The International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) hopes that the fellowship will lay the groundwork for their success and future leadership in the news industry.

The deadline is 7th November.

Charlene Victor and Ella J. Weiss Cultural Entrepreneur Fund - financial support for the professional development of Brooklyn's emerging and mid-career women artists and arts administrators. Every year, two individuals receive an award of $2500 each. This money is for the applicant’s professional development, not for project development. They accept artists from time-based artforms.

The deadline is 8th November, 11:59 pm ET.

Brooklyn Arts Fund - grants of $2000 - $5000 for Brooklyn-based individual artists, collectives, nonprofits and 501c3 organisations. Projects must have demonstrated community support. Brooklyn Arts Council cannot be the sole funder for proposed projects.

The deadline is 8th November.

First People’s Fund Yéigo Action Grant - support for the growing landscape of Native artists and culture bearers in the U.S. who require financial assistance with a professional development opportunity or towards a hardship that is hindering their creative practice. They offer grants between $100 and $5000. Applicants must be over the age of 18 and enrolled members of, or provide proof of lineal descendancy from, a U.S. federally recognised or U.S. state-recognised tribe, or be able to provide proof of ancestry as an Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian.

The deadline is rolling, on the 10th of each month. The next deadline is 10th November.

The David Prize - a celebration of New Yorkers with ideas for extraordinary change. They want to fund individuals with ideas, projects, products, and passions that will change New York’s communities, culture, and future for good. Prize winners will each receive $200,000 distributed over a 2-year period. The prize is open to any individual working in the five boroughs of New York. They need to see a clear idea of how an applicant’s work improves the city and what they’ll need to get it done. Applicants can be affiliated with organisations or companies, but the focus is on great people doing great things outside of established pathways and projects. 

The deadline is 11th November, 6 pm ET.

Dow Jones News Fund Internship Program - 10- to 12-week internships for U.S. based college sophomores, juniors, seniors, and graduate students who are enrolled in school full time, providing them with advanced hands-on training, industry mentors and a robust peer and alumni network. Interns attend 1-week training programmes before reporting to work in paid internships at top media companies. Weekly salaries start at $525. Interns who are enrolled full-time or graduates with federal loans are eligible for $1500 scholarships. They have a Digital Media internship, which could include working in audio — previous internship placements include NPR stations. U.S. students studying abroad and international students already in the U.S. with work visas are also eligible. Former professionals (those who have worked full-time on staff as a journalist for a year or more) are not eligible.

The deadline is 14th November.

Paul Dresher Ensemble Artist Residencies - an opportunity for early- to mid-career Northern California-based artists actively exploring new aesthetic premises and pushing the boundaries of conventional art forms and media. They provide artists with a stipend of $1500, free studio space and up-to-date equipment to create new work in time-based arts such as theater/performance, dance/movement, music/sound art/instrument invention, and collaborative and interdisciplinary work. They also have performance opportunities. They define an early- to mid-career artist (or group) as one who has finished their academic training or studies and is actively creating, producing, and performing their work but who is not yet receiving significant institutional support in the form of grants or commissions and is not yet touring nationally or internationally.

The deadline is 15th November, 11:59 pm PT.

SCAC Artists’ Business Initiative Grants - funding of up to $5000 for artist-driven, arts-based business initiatives that provide career satisfaction and sustainability for South Carolina based working artists, whether individuals or collectives. There are many accepted disciplines, including the following sound-relevant categories: time-based arts (installation, sound, video art, animation, film, computer generated art, or performance art); music (composition or performance); public art (ephemeral or permanent), or spoken word/slam poetry. Applicants must be over the age of 18.

The deadline is 15th November, 11:59 pm ET.

National Press Foundation Reporting on Women in Politics Award - a $5000 cash prize for work by U.S. based journalists in any medium that demonstrates nuance, context and accuracy when it comes to reporting on women in politics. Entries could range from well-crafted features, to series, to investigative journalism regarding incumbent women lawmakers or candidates for office on a local or national scale. Podcasts are accepted. Entry fees cost $25.

The deadline is 17th November.

Amplify Arts Alternate Currents Program - a 2-year programme designed to support artists and organisers living and working in the greater Omaha, Nebraska metro area to thoughtfully challenge dominant systems, forge collaborations, and engage with their communities. It’s intended as an alternative to a conventional M.F.A. Successful applicants receive a $1500 stipend each year to support their work. The programme also involves monthly site/studio visit meetings.

The deadline is 17th November.

Dr. Sheila Brooks NABJ Entrepreneur Scholarship - a $2500 grant for aspiring U.S. based entrepreneurs who want to pursue a career in media, marketing, or communications. Applicants must be a current National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) student member in good standing with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above. Annual student memberships cost $40.

The deadline is 18th November, midnight PT.

NYFA New Work Grant - a $3000 project-based grant from the New York Foundation of the Arts which supports emerging Queens-based artists in their creation of new work. “New Work” is defined as work that has not been produced or presented to an audience before. Proposed projects must include a public component (whether in person or virtual) that takes place for the local community members in Queens so that they can experience dynamic, easily accessible arts and culture. Artists and art collectives from all artistic disciplines are welcome to apply. Applicants must be over 18. 

The deadline is 19th November, 5 pm ET.

NEFA Cultural Sustainability Grant - non-matching operating support grants up to $100,000 to U.S. based arts organisations of colour with annual operating expenses under $500,000 as they sustain and expand their practices, providing arts and cultural experiences for larger, cross-cultural audiences. Eligible organisations are: 501(c)3 non-profit organisations; fiscally sponsored groups; artist-centered or led LLCs, S Corps, Limited or General Partnerships; federally- or state-recognised tribal governments.

The deadline is 21st November, 11:59 pm ET.

Center for Health Journalism Child Welfare Symposium and Impact Reporting Fund - a virtual programme and reporting grant supporting U.S. based professional journalists to complete ambitious investigative or explanatory projects on the child welfare and foster care systems, as well as the social and economic policies and conditions that can strengthen or weaken families and communities. The virtual symposium takes place from 8:30 am - 2:30 pm PT on 24th October and is free and open to journalists. It will explore policy and journalism on the child welfare system, which investigates and removes children from their homes at alarming rates, disproportionately impacting children of colour, and leading to worse outcomes and compounding family trauma. Journalists who attend the programme are eligible to apply for their Impact Reporting Fund on Child Welfare — $2000 - $10,000 and five months of 1:1 mentoring as reporters work on journalism projects for their outlets in partnership with the Center. Grantees are also eligible to compete for a $1000 - $2000 engagement grant. Projects should focus on the child welfare and foster care systems, as well as efforts to prevent kids from entering these systems in the first place. Staff and freelance journalists can apply.

The deadline is 21st November.

Writers Guild Awards - ​​a free-to-enter competition held by The Writers Guild of America West (WGAW), a labour union representing writers of motion pictures and television, including news and documentaries in the U.S. Their awards do have a radio and audio section for News Script and Radio/Audio Documentaries. Work must have been produced under WGA jurisdiction.

The deadline is 22nd November, 5 pm PT.

Dinah Eng Leadership Fellowship - grants of up to $1000 for mid-career Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) members pursuing the strategies and skills needed to enter news management and advance within its ranks. The fellowship money can be used for registration fees, tuition and expenses such as transportation, meals and hotel stays. Entrants must: be a current, dues-paying AAJA member (membership costs $65); demonstrate leadership potential or currently hold a management position; have five years or more of professional experience.

The next deadline is 30th November.

NYU Steinhardt Fully Funded Ph.D. in Music Technology - funding for NYU’s Ph.D. programme in Music Technology, which prepares students for research and teaching careers in academia and industry at the constantly changing intersection of music, sound, and technology. The programme involves research in the fields of computer music, immersive audio, music psychology and neuroscience, sound and music computing, and data science, as well as in cutting-edge technologies for music experiences, interaction, education, creation, production, and accessibility. The Steinhardt Fellowship package provides grantees with an annual stipend of $33,867, tuition remission for required course work, and student health insurance through their fifth year. NOTE: I’m not sure if this is open to international applicants.

The deadline is 1st December.

NYU Steinhardt Fully Funded PhD in Media, Culture, and Communication - funding for NYU’s Ph.D. programme in Media, Culture and Communication, which invites intellectual inquiry across the department: Global Communication and Media, Technology and Society, Visual Culture and Sound Studies, Media Industries and Politics, Interaction and Experience. The Steinhardt Fellowship package provides grantees with an annual stipend of $33,867, tuition remission for required course work, and student health insurance through their fifth year. NOTE: I’m not sure if this is open to international applicants.

The deadline is 1st December.

NEFA Public Art for Spatial Justice - support for Massachusetts-based artist(s) and organisations to create public art that helps its audience see, feel, experience and imagine spatial justice — the battle for a more just future for public spaces and public culture. Grants range from $15,000 - $30,000, for up to two years. They recognise the intersectionality of identities and acknowledge that artists may also identify as cultural practitioners, activists, and community-rooted collaborators, and may be self/community-taught, institutionally trained, or a combination of both. All artistic disciplines are welcome to apply, as long as applicants are specifically interested in public artmaking. Projects must take place in Massachusetts. Applicants must be 18 years and older. Priority will be given to projects that are: led or co-led by Black, Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC), and more specifically BIPOC artists and creatives; rooted in community and/or demonstrate a deep relationship to place — particularly rural places, and/or places where folks are experiencing/have experienced displacement; and focused on disrupting harmful historic narratives.

The deadline is 2nd December, 11:59 pm ET.

Paul Miller Washington Reporting Fellowship - a yearlong opportunity for early career Washington, D.C., based reporters to learn what it takes to cover the White House, Supreme Court, Capitol, Pentagon, Justice Department and other key government institutions. The fellowship involves monthly sessions with fellows, lawmakers, analysts and top journalists who will discuss policy, politics and best practices in reporting. Applicants can be journalists from any medium and news organisation. 

The deadline is 2nd December.

Collier Award for Ethics in Journalism - a celebration of acts of journalism by student and professional journalists that meet the highest ethical standards in the face of pressure or incentives to do otherwise. Work must be published or broadcast by a U.S. based outlet. Winners will receive: a $5000 award or scholarship for exemplary ethical journalism by a high school, undergraduate, or graduate student journalist ($500 for second place, $250 for third place); a $10,000 award for exemplary ethical journalism with local or regional impact or significance by a professional journalist or team ($1000 for second place, $500 for third place); a $15,000 award for exemplary ethical journalism with national or international impact or significance by a professional journalist or team ($2500 for second place, $1000 for third place). The student category doesn’t explicitly mention audio journalism, but the other categories do. The award focuses both on the process of creating the work and on the quality of the final pieces, including all of the difficult decisions, considerations, and questions applicants navigated to work ethically in the pursuit of great journalism.

The deadline is 9th December, 11:59 pm PT.

NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship - an $8000 unrestricted cash grant available for artists living in New York State and/or one of the Tribal Nations located therein. They support different disciplines each year; the 2025 categories include Music/Sound. Applicants must be 25 years or older by the application deadline date.

The deadline is 13th December, 5 pm ET.

Patrick Henry History Fellowship - a 9-month full-time residential fellowship which supports outstanding work on American history by both scholars and non-academics. Applicants must be legally authorised to work in the U.S. Prospective fellows should propose a project which addresses the history and/or legacy of the U.S. founding era or the nation’s founding ideas. They offer a $45,000 stipend, health benefits, faculty privileges, a book allowance, and accommodation. Applicants should have a significant project currently in progress — a book, film, oral history archive, podcast series, museum exhibition, or similar work.

The deadline is 15th December.

Europe

Visegrad V4 Art Residency - financial support and residencies for applicants who are citizens of the Visegrad countries: Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia (“V4”). Except for VARP-US, the residency project must be implemented in a Visegrad country other than that of the applicant's citizenship and/or permanent residence. The amount of the support is €1000 per month for the resident and €1250 per month for the host organisation. There are specific 2-month Visual and Sound Artists Residencies which facilitate mobility and artistic exchanges of V4 citizens in the fields of visual and sound arts, including sound installation, sound performance, composition. Other relevant categories include a 6-week Literary Art Residency (written literature, literary criticism, literary translation and journalism). They have a finder so that applicants can check what residencies are available to them.

The deadline is 20th October.

Investigation Grants for Environmental Journalism - project-based grants for a cross-border team of professional journalists and/or news outlets to conduct investigations into environmental affairs related to continental Europe. This round, The Investigation Grants for Environmental Journalism are giving out €400,000 in total. There is no limit to the amount you can request as long as the budget seems reasonable for the project. Successful applicants can also apply for mentorship. The final project can be published in any language.

The next deadline is 24th October, 1 pm CET.

Balkansmedia Innovation Fund - grants for locally registered media and individual content creators from Bosnia and Herzegovina to increase the availability of credible and professional information to the widest possible population in the region, especially to those with traditionally limited access to such information. This call is focused on innovative approaches in solving the challenges faced by the media in the production of high-quality content and achieving those solutions through the use of digital and multimedia formats. Individuals can apply for up to $2950 and media houses can apply for $3000 - $12,000. The grants will cover the costs of work, production and the purchase of basic small equipment that are important and exclusively related to the given production. Proposed projects shouldn’t take more than eight months. This year, priority will be given to applications dealing with audio and visual formats. 

The deadline is 25th October, 5 pm CET.

IJ4EU’s Investigation Support Scheme - grants of between €5000 and €50,000 to support cross-border journalistic teams working on investigations of public interest in Europe. Eligible countries include all 27 EU member states and the following non-EU countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia and Ukraine. Teams must have members who are residents in at least two of these countries. The proposed project must focus on a topic of cross-border relevance. IJ4EU will consider funding all formats, including print, broadcast, online media, documentary filmmaking and multi-platform storytelling. Applicants can be staff or freelance. The IJ4EU grant may cover any percentage of a project’s costs, up to 100 percent of the total.

The next deadline is 28th October.

IJ4EU’s Freelancer Support Scheme - Investigative Journalism for Europe’s grants of up to €20,000 for cross-border teams of journalists working outside of newsroom structures to launch investigations of importance to audiences at a local, national, regional or European level. They also provide tailored training, mentoring and networking opportunities. Eligible countries include all 27 EU member states and the following non-EU countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia and Ukraine. Teams must be predominantly made up of freelancers based in at least two of the above countries. Projects must aim to be published by respected news organisations or platforms in at least two eligible countries. IJ4EU can also support some unforeseen legal costs, as well as provide advocacy and editorial support.

The next deadline is 28th October.

Media Start Funding under the Vienna Media Initiative - funding for Viennese small media founders developing economically sustainable services who want to strengthen their business management skills and journalistic know-how, and are developing new media products. I think it is international, but it doesn’t specify. The initiative supports self-employed journalists and small media companies, with €2000 - €10,000 per project. This can cover costs for external services, training and professional development, courses and consultations, internal payroll costs, and travel expenses. A special focus is on the journalistic quality and the novelty of the applicants’ media formats. The Vienna Media Initiative will cover 75% of the proposed costs.

The deadline is 31st October.

NCTJ Awards for Excellence - free-to-enter awards recognising the achievements of talented individuals in the U.K. with promising journalism careers ahead of them. The awards are open to students, trainee and apprentice journalists. There are many categories, including Podcast Journalism, as well as medium-agnostic ones. Specialist award categories include the Innovation of the Year award as well as the Equality Diversity and Inclusion award. Applicants can enter as a Student if: they are studying (or have studied) on an NCTJ-accredited course in the 2023-24 academic year and/or they are studying towards the Diploma in Journalism as a distance learner, having started the course no more than two years ago, and are not a working journalist. Applicants can enter as a Trainee if: they have completed the Diploma in Journalism and have less than two years’ employment and/or they are completing (or have completed) an NCTJ journalism apprenticeship during the 2023-24 academic year and/or they are studying towards the Diploma in Journalism as a distance learner, having started the course no more than two years ago, and are a working journalist with less than two years’ employment.

The deadline is 1st November, 5 pm GMT.

Sounds of the Future Residency at Sound Art Lab (Spring) - a 3-week residency opportunity for artists strongly associated with the Danish sound art scene. Residing artists will have their own accommodation, workspace and access to professional sound studios for recording and editing stereo, surround and multi-channel works, electronic and wood workshops, as well as to their general depot of audio gear (microphones, recorders, speakers etc.). The residency provides an honorarium of DKK 10,000 per week. Both individuals and groups can apply, however the grant amount remains the same per award. Applicants cannot be in education or undergoing training. They are able to support artists with children.

The deadline is 1st November, 11:59 pm CET.

European Cross-Border Grants - funds for a cross-border team of at least two European journalists to complete an investigative project. Most cross-border grants vary from €2000 - €14,000 per project, but there is no limit to apply for. Applicants must have at least two letters of intent from professional news outlets who are willing to publish the result of their investigation. Projects can be in any language, but the application must be in English. Although the majority of projects are print, they have supported podcast work before. The grant happens four times a year.

The next deadline is 7th November.

Journalismfund European Local Cross-border Grants - a grant, mentoring and scholarships programme for teams of local investigative journalists and/or local media outlets from at least two different European countries to address the shortage of local independent journalism by administering grants to local investigative journalistic projects in Europe and stimulating cross-border collaboration. The budget is open; in practice, grants could vary from around €2000 for smaller investigations to €10,000 or higher for large investigations that involve newsrooms in many countries, require a lot of research and expenses, data access, legal screening, etc. and yield a large series of publications. Successful applicants can request a mentor if needed. Applicants can be professional freelance or staff journalists, but they request two letters of intent for publication from professional news outlets in two different countries and independent from the applicant’s own platform. They accept investigative journalism published by professional local media in any form, whether print, online, broadcast or cross-media; radio documentaries and podcasts are allowed. The result of the journalistic investigation can be published by a professional media outlet in any language but the application must be in English.

The deadline is 7th November, 1 pm CET.

The Churchill Fellowship - funding for U.K. based individuals with a vision for change in their community or sector to spend two months exploring innovations around the world that will help them to put their ideas into practice back home. Their topical themes this year range across the whole of society, including culture, community, economy, education, environment, public provision, health, science and more. They prioritise those who would not receive funding from other sources. The learning can take place in person or online. They are looking for people with the passion and potential to make a real difference to their community or sector.

The deadline is 12th November.

The Pascal Decroos Fund - a grant programme for Dutch nationals to promote in-depth journalism in the Dutch-language media in Belgium. They are seeking original and innovative proposed projects which are relevant to Flanders and cannot be realised through regular journalistic channels. They have three types of grants: Investigative Journalism, In-depth Journalism and Preliminary Research. All journalistic media are accepted, including radio and podcasts. Both early-career and experienced journalists can apply, but those with more than two years of experience must provide a letter of intent for publication from at least one professional news outlet. There is no limit to the budget you can suggest. 

The next deadline is 14th November, 1 pm CET.

International Journalism Programmes - 6- to 8-week exchange programmes which enable German and international journalists to travel to each other’s countries and report within host organisations. Each delegate will receive a stipend which is intended to cover most of their travel expenses, meals and accommodation, and varies depending on the programme. Age ranges may apply. All candidates must have a strong command of English. Radio journalists are welcome to apply, and applicants can be staff or freelance, unless otherwise specified.

International Journalism Programme (IJP) initiatives with upcoming deadlines are:

Northern Europe - for journalists aged 18 to 40 from the between the five Nordic and three Baltic states and Germany, taking place between April and June 2025. The delegates receive a €3800 stipend.

The deadline is 15th November.

BIRN Engage Your Audience Grants - grants, training, mentoring for media outlets from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Czech Republic, Poland, Serbia and Slovakia to strengthen their reporting and investigate underreported issues within diverse communities. Media outlets will utilise the audience-engagement tool developed by BIRN to crowdsource, gather and analyse data from their communities. Audience-engaged journalism seeks to bridge the gap between newsrooms and their audiences, transforming journalism into a service that directly responds to the needs of the community. They offer: grants for individual stories of up to €4000; grants for cross-border stories of up to €8000; 4-day online training on audience engagement; mentoring throughout the project; access to a digital tool to enhance audience engagement. Stories focusing on marginalised communities, youth and women are strongly encouraged. Content may comprise news, analysis, investigations, different news formats: audio, text, video or multimedia.

The deadline is 27th November.

Club de la Presse Prize for a More Egalitarian World - an award celebrating young journalists under 35 from the Grand Est region in France for their coverage of a subject linked to equality, whether economic, social, geographical, environmental, linked to age or gender, or any other type of inequality. The winner receives €1000. All types of journalistic work (print articles, radio, TV, web reports, photos, press cartoons, comic strip reports, etc.) are allowed. 

The deadline is 30th November, 12 pm CET.

Journalismfund Microgrants for Small Newsrooms - a grant and mentoring programme which aims to empower 50 local independent media outlets in Europe to foster resilience and viability through introducing media personnel to a design-learning approach focused on audience research, prototyping, and testing new products and services. Small- and medium-sized, local, and independent media outlets in E.U. member states and participating countries in the Creative Europe Programme (Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Ukraine, Armenia) can apply. They provide each newsroom with up to €5000 and personalised mentorship. The programme will: allow small news outlets in countries where media plurality is under threat to implement new tactics and skills to build resilience and viability; encourage a culture of innovation at the local level through introducing media personnel to a design-learning approach focused on audience research, prototyping, and testing new products and services; accumulate a vast set of case studies and best practices that can then be shared with other newsrooms across Europe, in countries suffering from a lack of plurality and beyond. The results of the investigation can be published by a professional media outlet in any language, but applications must be in English. 

The deadline is 17th December.

United Kingdom + Ireland

Granada Foundation Funding - grant sums of £500 - £10,000 for imaginative proposals from charitable or not-for-profit organisations which will make the North West of the U.K. a richer and more attractive place in which to live and work. They accept applications within Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region, Lancashire, Cheshire, High Peak, Westmorland and Furness and Cumberland. They are interested in: activity in locations where involvement in creative and cultural activity is low; local proposals that are well planned with clear outcomes and involve professional artists or scientists in their development and/or delivery; projects which demonstrate outstanding merit, originality or significance that encourage the production of creative work or public understanding of the arts or sciences; and projects which leave a legacy of skills, knowledge or experience. Grants are on average £2000. Proposed projects should have already secured some committed match funding or can demonstrate credible plans to apply for other grants.

The deadline is 18th October.

Publica The Right to the City Artist Callout - a project in the wards of Cornhill, Cripplegate, Aldersgate and Portsoken which focuses on understanding women’s experiences of London after dark. They are looking for a diverse group of artists and facilitators to: gather insights into the experiences, needs and realities of women, girls and gender-diverse people in the City after dark; lead a one-night workshop; co-create events, activities, and spaces of celebration where women, girls and gender-diverse people feel they have a right to belong in the City; co-create a series of policy actions, public space interventions and other priority investments that will make a difference; document the work and make an open access set of resources to inform future work. They are looking for applicants who: have a background in community engagement, public art, or socially engaged art practices; live in London and ideally have a connection to the local communities. Experience working on projects related to urban environments, safety, feminist practices and gender inclusion is desirable. Each selected artist will receive £1000 for their contribution to the project, including the development and facilitation of their workshop. These workshops will be grounded in each artist’s practice.

The deadline is 20th October.

BBC Indie Development Fund - financial support that champions indies from across the U.K. who share the BBC’s creative diversity ambitions. Successful applicants will receive funding of between £10,000 and £25,000 in addition to mentoring from BBC commissioners. This year, all BBC radio networks will be participating across BBC Music or Speech, as opposed to just BBC Radio 3 as was the case in previous years. They are keen to strengthen their supply base in the Nations & Regions. They are looking for: indies who have very little or no experience working with the BBC; more established indies (those who have secured at least two commissions from the BBC in the past five years) who have an interest and expertise in reaching audiences new for the BBC; indies who are actively interested in broadening their audio production portfolio and have a passion for creating (or learning how to create) innovative specialised content in these categories – classical music programmes for Radio 3; specialist/alternative music programmes for 6 Music; specialist programmes for 1Xtra and Asian Network; programming for under 25s.

The deadline is 21st October, 5 pm BST.

Wandsworth Arts Fringe Grants - up to £2000 funding for artists and community groups to create work that engages with Wandsworth residents. Applicants do not have to be based in Wandsworth, but the proposal must take place in the borough and benefit locals. The fund is unable to support profit-making ventures, fund-raising activities, capital, core costs and course fees. The grant can fund up to 70% of the total project cost. 

The deadline is 30th October, 12 pm BST.

BBC Audio Drama Awards - free-to-enter awards celebrating the best audio drama in the U.K. They have lots of categories, but from the production side there is: Best Use of Sound, Best European Drama, Best Podcast Audio Drama, Best Adaptation.

The deadline is 30th October.

Norfolk and Norwich Festival Bursaries for Young Creatives - a 9-month learning programme and £2500 funding for young people aged 18 - 25 who are living in Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, or Peterborough to further their cultural and community leadership abilities. The programme will enable participants to develop their creative skills and contribute to the creativity journeys of other young people in East Anglia. Applicants must be: a member of Norfolk & Norwich Festival’s Youth Network, FLOCK (sign-up is free); and committed to carrying out local artistic work. Applicants might be an artist, an assistant curator, an arts worker; an activist, a graduate; or a community representative. They define a Creative Leader as someone active in sharing their passion for, and understanding of, arts and culture with others. Proposals for bursaries can feature hands-on delivery and/or research and development.

The deadline is 31st October, 12 pm BST.

INK Festival Script Submissions (Students) - a script-writing competition for new writers who are residents of the U.K. and Ireland, or U.K. and Irish nationals living abroad. There are two radio categories: Long Radio (for 45-minute scripts) and Radio Comedy (for 20-minute or under scripts). Plays should preferably have a minimum of two actors and a maximum of four actors, though actors can play multiple roles. Submission is free to enter and winners will have their scripts performed at the INK festival.

The student deadline is 31st October, 11:59 pm BST.

University of Exeter Arts and Culture Creative Fellowships - 4- or 5-week exploratory placements for U.K. based creative practitioners to work in an interdisciplinary context at the University of Exeter. The Creative Fellowships are open to practitioners of any artform, including visual, digital, sound and performing arts, craft, design, film, literature and music. This scheme encourages mutually beneficial exchange, where both the host and the creative practitioner gain new insights and potential ways of working. This year’s topics are Food Citizenship: Researching belonging(s) and homemaking through food, hosted by the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies/Centre for Kurdish Studies; and Wills as Windows onto Past Lives, hosted by Archaeology and History/The Material Culture of Wills Project Team. Fellows may attend informal department meetings, working with students and audiences, building 1:1 relationships with particular researchers and exploring novel perspectives on the activities that support the University’s work. The total budget per Creative Fellowship is £6000 (inclusive of VAT) on a freelance basis, to include practitioner’s fee, travel and accommodation, production costs and documentation. £100 will be provided to cover the creative practitioner’s time to prepare and attend the interview. 

The deadline is 3rd November, midnight GMT.

Creative Access Career Development Bursary - up to £1000 of financial support for U.K. based creatives from underrepresented backgrounds, helping them cover essential career development costs such as training courses, equipment, software, relocation expenses, care costs and more. Their definition of underrepresented includes Black, Asian and ethnically diverse individuals, disabled people and individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. It also includes care leavers, young carers, people who have come to the U.K. as refugees or asylum seekers and those undergoing gender reassignment/transitioning. Applicants must be: over the age of 18; able to demonstrate financial need; and eligible to work in the U.K. Radio and audio production is one of the accepted creative artforms.

The deadline is 4th November, 9 am GMT.

The Journalism Diversity Fund (JDF) - The National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) is the most recognised training scheme for journalists in the U.K. The organisation offers bursaries to people from diverse backgrounds who need help funding their NCTJ training. You can only apply once you have applied for an NCTJ-accredited course. They have four application rounds a year. 

The next deadline is 6th November, 5 pm BST.

BBC Script Submissions Open Call - a call out for drama or comedy/drama scripts written for film, TV, radio, stage, online or for children’s media from residents of the U.K., Channel Islands, Isle of Man, or Republic of Ireland. BBC Writers aren’t looking for ideas for production explicitly, they are primarily using the scripts to identify writers with real talent and potential. Comedy sketch shows and pure narrative comedy series or sitcoms are not eligible. Scripts must be a minimum of 30 pages long. The copyright of all submitted scripts rests with the writer.

The deadline is 3rd December, 12 pm GMT.

Oceania

New Zealand Podcast Awards - awards for podcasts done by independent and professional Kiwi podcast producers across the country and abroad. They have 28 categories, including Best Independent Podcast, Best Maori or Pasifika Podcast/Host (which is free to enter when you enter any regular category) and The Rising Star Award (for creators with under two years’ experience in podcasting). Applications cost NZ$40 for independent podcasters (with less than NZ$100,000 turnover per year), educational institutions or charities, or NZ$80 for corporations. 

The deadline is 23rd October, 5 pm NZDT.

Melbourne Press Club Michael Gordon Fellowships - grants to fund reporting projects by Australian journalists that are specialising in social justice, Indigenous affairs, migration, human rights, international development and public interest journalism. The programme is open to all journalists, photographers and videographers working in news organisations of any size and in any medium. They also welcome applications from freelance journalists and accomplished student journalists who have a commitment to having their work published by an outlet at the time of application. The maximum individual grant is AU $10,000 but, in exceptional circumstances, a larger grant may apply. Typically, successful applicants receive grants in the range of $4000 and $7000. Freelance applicants may also seek a daily allowance of $200 towards their labour during the period of research, travel and publishing. Fellows hold copyright over their work but the Melbourne Press Club reserves the right to republish or rebroadcast any of the content for the purposes of promoting the fellowship programme.

The deadline is 25th October, 5 pm AEST.

Australian Sports Commission Media Awards - free-to-enter awards recognising excellence in sports journalism, broadcasting and production. They focus on analytical and insightful reporting and the presentation of sport and sporting issues, with the ultimate aim of fostering improved coverage of key issues within sport. They have many medium agnostic categories, as well as one for Best Sport Podcast. They also have a Rising Star Award for people 30 and under, or who have been in the industry for five years or fewer, and a Lifetime Achievement Award. Applicants must be over the age of 18.

The deadline is 1st November, 11:59 pm EDST.

Creative Australian Red Ochre Award - a recognition of lifetime contribution to First Nations communities and arts and culture. There are two categories and four awards of AU $60,000 each: the Red Ochre Award for Lifetime Achievement in Artistic Excellence and the Red Ochre Award for Lifetime Achievement in Cultural Advocacy and Leadership.

The deadline is 12th November, 3 pm AEDT.

The Jesse Cox Audio Fellowship - a mentorship programme which offers AU $1000 to four aspiring audio makers to create feature-length audio stories (25-35 minutes) in any genre. They are aiming to bridge the gap for emerging makers between receiving their foundational education in storymaking, and taking the step to make brave, risky or innovative work. Stories should have an Australian connection — they’re seeking to strengthen the Australian audio community; while applicants don’t have to be citizens, they must have a connection to Australia (perhaps they live there, or they call Australia home even if they don’t live there currently). They offer a customised learning journey, a mentor from the Australian audio community and a series of masterclasses with experts. The stories will be broadcast on All The Best, which is broadcast on 25 stations around Australia. Submissions should not have been previously published, but can take the form of any genre - radio art, documentary, personal narrative, audio drama, fiction etc. You can read my Spotlight on The Jesse Cox Audio Fellowship here.

The deadline is 20th November.

Canada

British Columbia Arts Council Project Assistance: Media Arts Organizations - support for British Columbia based organisations and arts or curatorial collectives in the development, expansion, enhancement, or creation of new or unique independent media arts works, programming and community engagement initiatives. They support a range of mediums, including audio or sound art (sound sculptures and installations, sound walks, or other use of sound and listening as the foundation of artistic expression, generally for presentation in gallery spaces). The maximum request amount is $25,000. Applicants may request up to 50% of the total eligible project budget; or up to 65% of the total eligible project budget from applicants that are considered part of the British Columbia Arts Council’s designated priority groups (Indigenous peoples; deaf or experience disability; Black or people of colour; those located in areas outside greater Vancouver or the capital region). Applicant contributions to the project budget can include both cash and in-kind contributions. They have a long list of eligibility criteria, which you can read here.

The deadline is 17th October.

Indigenous Screen Office Podcasting Program - funding to support the development and creation of engaging and unique podcasts by Indigenous screen-based and audio storytellers. The funding is $30,000 and could be for individuals, collectives, companies or community groups. For the purposes of Indigenous Screen Office (ISO) programmes, “Indigenous” is defined as status and non-status First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples of Canada. Applicants can apply to develop or produce any format or genre of podcast, excluding projects that include exclusively journalistic content or sponsored content. They do not support activities carried out by organisations that have not paid, or do not pay, fees or royalties to artists according to the standards of the arts practice or sector.

The deadline is 24th October.

Media Arts Committee Fellowship - an 8-week virtual residency for sound artists based in Canada. The artist's fee is $980. After the eight weeks artists will complete a stereo composition between 1 and 10 minutes that will be presented as a group compilation. Artists must have access to equipment to complete high quality sound recordings and compositions.

The deadline is 21st November, 5 pm PT.

Latin America + The Caribbean

Livre.jor Journalism Award - a free-to-enter award which aims to identify, catalogue, recognise and certify journalists and journalism students from Brazil whose work is linked to the promotion of a culture of transparency and the right of access to information of public interest. This could be related to data accessibility, information provision, monitoring the social networks of public figures, fact-checking, anything as long as it is in the public interest. The Professional category is for Brazilian journalists, or foreigners living in the country, with professional registration (MTb); the Student category is for journalism students, with work published in initiatives linked to undergraduate courses (websites, radio, TV and student newspapers, for example). They expect to distribute more than R$2500 among the winners. Projects aimed at the journalistic and public data community can compete for the Rastilho Trophy. Work is accepted in any platform, media, format and narrative type.

The deadline is 20th October, 11:59 pm WEST.

Merck Foundation Media Recognition Awards for Latin American Countries - awards for journalists from print, radio, online, and multimedia platforms from Latin American countries, on the topic of strong and influential messages to promote a healthy lifestyle and raising awareness about prevention and early detection of diabetes and hypertension. They pay $500 for each category, which are split into types of media. 

The deadline is 30th October.

Asia

Call for Applications: Radio Professionals from Sindh and Balochistan - an initiative focused on empowering radio professionals in Sindh and Balochistan in Pakistan aged 25 to 45 to create and broadcast impactful content that promotes cultural diversity and enhances U.S.-Pakistan collaboration under the "Green Alliance" framework. They offer successful applicants: capacity-building workshops; a mentorship programme; the opportunity to win content creation grants; the opportunity to participate in a study tour to the U.S.; a collaborative production opportunity; and the opportunity to showcase work. They welcome applications from radio executives, radio broadcasters, journalists, and radio makers actively engaged in creating content for radio platforms in Sindh and Balochistan. Applicants must have: at least three years of professional experience working in radio, including content creation, broadcasting, or journalism; a strong connection with the local media landscape and communities; and an interest in U.S.-Pakistan collaboration.

The deadline is 20th October, 11:59 pm HRS.

British Council Climate Futures: South Asia - support for artists and cultural organisations in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan or Sri Lanka seeking to develop impactful projects that address the climate emergency. They offer grants of £15,000, mentorship, research, and knowledge exchanges between the U.K. and South Asia. Selected grantees will be provided with mentorship sessions through the course of their project from leading U.K. specialists in this field.

The deadline is 25th November, 11:59 pm GMT.

Africa

Radio Workshop Call for Pitches on LGBTQ+ Dating on Apps - a pitching round for sound-rich, person-first audio documentaries that explore stories about the LGBTQ+ community dating on apps in Africa, made by African audio producers. They’re looking for 3 - 6 minute stories in English, focusing on people between the ages of 18 and 35. For producers looking to tell their own story, Radio Workshop will walk them through turning a written essay into an audio story. They’re interested in pitches from anywhere across Africa, but are particularly interested in stories from Rwanda, Nigeria, Kenya, Namibia, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. They’re looking for narratives with a strong arc and a strong sense of character and place. Pay depends on the assignment, but for this call out will likely range from $200 - $800. Applicants should email pitch [at] radioworkshop [dot] org with the subject line: “LGBTQ+ online dating pitch,” answering the following: name; age; location of the story; age of character; describe the story in one paragraph (3 - 5 sentences); will there be any sounds or scenes? If so, briefly describe: WHY are you interested in this story?; why should WE be interested in the story?; what concerns do you have, if any, about your ability to produce this story?; the timeline.

The deadline is 18th October.

That’s it for this month! Thanks for subscribing.

If you have any upcoming resources you can submit them via this form or via email to allhear [at] transom [dot] org. The next newsletter comes out on Thursday 14th November, so for any upcoming opportunities please reach out before Friday 8th November.

All Hear is edited by Jennifer Jerrett and Sydney Lewis.

Copyright © Talia Augustidis, all rights reserved.

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